Tree tubes

[Mattyq2402]

What do you all recommend as far as tubes go? I have 9 crabs of varying type coming. I purchased the tree survival kit from morse nursery which includes tube, fert pack, and weed mats. Would you guys recommend tubes, I plan on fencing them at planting time.

 

[willy]

I wouldn't use tall tubes for fruit trees. 2 or 3' will give good rabbit control, good weed control, 5' high wire fence around the tree, wider than branches and where deer can't reach them. Periodically lifting tubes to make sure no nest and such are forming. The tube will also protect from herbicide over spray if you accidently hit the area of the trunk.

I like to cut the tube all the way vertically and let the tube wrap relatively tight around the trunk. This keeps varmits from living or getting to the trunk to girdle and still protects from overspray. Then in the spring you can unroll the tube and clip off any branches that may have sprung out from the protected area of the trunk. I always have a few. Then put tube back on. It spreads with the growth of the trunk. I've yet to have any issues doing this with my fruit trees.

 

[scott44]

I don't tube fruit trees I cage them with either 4 or 5 foot weldwire fence and a couple 3/4"x 5' long PVC conduit. Plant the tree then add a 4' square weed block then add 18-24" metal window screen around the trunk and finish with the wire cage.

 

[homerj1]

Morse Nursery....

 

[Catscratch]

Cage and windowscreen. A wise man gave me some tubes once. His wisdom wasn't in that he gave them to me... it was that he found a way to put half the country distance between them and himself.

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[chummer]

I do like 3’ tubes with a cage. It gives me winter protection and maintenance is easier.

 

[buckdeer1]

I don't like tubes for fruit trees either,but they are great for oaks.There are other places I would look.

 

[yoderjac]

I won't use tubes on apples. Fencing only. Bottom of the tubes seem to warm up more quickly in the spring and I get a lot of water sprouts from the base.

 

[Mattyq2402]

Morse Nursery....

???

 

[Mattyq2402]

What do you do if you do get the low branches say a foot off the ground, i saw two of my trees have these? Sorry for the rookie questions. We are planning on doing a bunch of white oak pla tings after the tsi so maybe ill try the tubes there. Would you guys reccomend taking tubes off my already planted apple, pear, and crabs then?

 

[sandbur]

What do you do if you do get the low branches say a foot off the ground, i saw two of my trees have these? Sorry for the rookie questions. We are planning on doing a bunch of white oak pla tings after the tsi so maybe ill try the tubes there. Would you guys reccomend taking tubes off my already planted apple, pear, and crabs then?

I have the tubes inside a tube of 1/4 inch wire mesh and the open side is to the north. These are used on seedlings and bench grafts and usually are left in place for about one year.

I can easily see how they are doing, pinch off suckers, and slit grafting tape if needed.

I switch to aluminum window screen, Staples around the trees after 3-18 months depending on rate of growth.


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[TreeDaddy]

Paul Knox didnt recommend tubes for fruit trees in his threads

He wrote that tubes would predispose to bark rot,fungus , and other maladies

He did write about using them for oaks and other hardwoods

Timeless threads!!!

bill

 

[Apple Junkie]

Personally, I am not a fan of tubes. Cages will protect from deer, screening or trunk wrap will protect from mice and voles, weed mats keep weeds at bay. Leaving tubeless allows branches to grab sunlight and trunk to strengthen in the breeze. Just my opinion.